Philadelphia Officer Shane Seiber Killed in West Philadelphia Shooting; Suspect Charged

A Philadelphia police officer was shot and killed early Saturday in West Philadelphia, and a second officer was wounded, after they responded to a report of a man with a gun, according to city officials. District Attorney Larry Krasner said Saturday afternoon that a suspect, 35-year-old Eric Lewis, is being charged with homicide.

The slain officer was identified as Shane Seiber, 40, a 10-year veteran of the Philadelphia Police Department. Police Commissioner Kevin Bethel said the surviving officer is in stable condition.

What happened in West Philadelphia

Seiber and another officer were responding to the report of a man with a gun when both were shot, police said. Both were taken to Penn Presbyterian Medical Center, where they underwent surgery, Bethel said, according to ABC News. The Guardian reported that Bethel said a suspect was in custody.

Krasner said Lewis faces a number of charges beyond homicide in Seiber's death, including attempted homicide for allegedly shooting the second officer. He is also accused of shooting at nine other officers who responded to the scene, according to Krasner. Charges are allegations, and the sources do not report a plea.

What is known about the suspect

The Guardian reported that the Philadelphia Inquirer, citing law enforcement sources, identified the suspect as Lewis and said he worked for the city's municipal water department. The Guardian attributed that employment detail to the Inquirer, and city officials had not been quoted confirming it in the sources reviewed.

Who Seiber leaves behind

Seiber is survived by his wife and two children, a 7-year-old boy and a 3-year-old girl, according to both outlets. Gov. Josh Shapiro said he ordered flags to fly at half-mast in Seiber's honor.

According to the Officer Down Memorial Page, which honors U.S. law enforcement personnel who died on duty, Seiber was at least the 376th Philadelphia police officer to die in the line of duty since 1851. The group said he was the 129th of those officers to die from gunfire, the Guardian reported.

Why it matters for Philadelphia residents

The shooting is a reminder of the risks officers face when answering calls about armed people. For residents, the immediate consequences are largely official: a homicide prosecution is under way, and state flags are lowered in Seiber's memory. The sources did not describe any change to policing, neighborhood restrictions or public safety measures in West Philadelphia following the shooting.

Authorities have not disclosed, in the reports reviewed, what led to the original call or what happened in the moments before the officers were shot. Details may emerge as the case proceeds.

Sources: ABC News, The Guardian